I just installed a Netgear WN2500RP range extender, and it seems to be working correctly; however, I am unable to log in to www.mywifiext.net to access the device using a browser. Attempting to access this URL results in a timeout. Is there any other way to access the device? Does the device have to be connected via Ethernet to my (Actiontec PK5000) router?

It sounds like the subnet mask in the extender is different from that in your computer. That is a classic problem with this class of device. If you think this might be the case, you can establish communications with the device by connecting it by wire to your computer and making sure your computer has no other lan/internet path (connect while both are powered down). Power up the device first, let it settle a couple of minutes, then power on your computer. With no access to your main router, it will use the DHCP in the device to set the subnet mask and get an ip address. You can now use the browser to access the device.

extender uses existing DHCP and extender has much less to do. I should pick up by the URL or check your main router for attach device listing and find the IP of the extender and use IP in browser to see if you can reach it

extender uses existing DHCP and extender has much less to do. I should pick up by the URL or check your main router for attach device listing and find the IP of the extender and use IP in browser to see if you can reach it

Yes, the extender uses the existing DHCP... but oddly enough, this device has a DHCP built-in, and can use it when/if the main router DHCP is unavailable. I know, because I have done the procedure myself, that I outlined above. It is how I installed the extender when I first received it. Normally Netgear ships their routers/extenders/access points/etc with a different subnet mask than I have in use, so when I first tried to install a Netgear device, it was a challange.
Until I figured out what the problem was.

It sounds like the subnet mask in the extender is different from that in your computer. That is a classic problem with this class of device. If you think this might be the case, you can establish communications with the device by connecting it by wire to your computer and making sure your computer has no other lan/internet path (connect while both are powered down). Power up the device first, let it settle a couple of minutes, then power on your computer. With no access to your main router, it will use the DHCP in the device to set the subnet mask and get an ip address. You can now use the browser to access the device.

Okay, I'm having the same problem accessing my Extender using www.mywifiext.net which keeps rerouting to the general netgear support site. Your subnet issue makes sense and is no doubt my problem.

Thru repeated full Extender resets and starting all over from the beginning, I am able to enter the www.mywifiext.net configuration menus UNTIL I select a router to connect to. The moment this connection is made, it seems the router's DHCP subnet immediately takes hold and contact with the Extender is dropped, consequently preventing further settings changes and any web access to the Extender again. Very aggravating!

Your alternative hard-wired access method sounds like it could work but I don't have an ethernet cable at hand to try it. And, some devices these days dont even have ethernet ports. I think I should be able to wirelessly access this unique subnet extender any time I want to make and test various settings tweaks. Maybe I can use the "route" command line to create a static connection between www.mywifiext.net and the Extender's internal subnet. Can you tell me what the default Extender subnet is?

Okay, I'm having the same problem accessing my Extender using www.mywifiext.net which keeps rerouting to the general netgear support site. Your subnet issue makes sense and is no doubt my problem.

Thru repeated full Extender resets and starting all over from the beginning, I am able to enter the www.mywifiext.net configuration menus UNTIL I select a router to connect to. The moment this connection is made, it seems the router's DHCP subnet immediately takes hold and contact with the Extender is dropped, consequently preventing further settings changes and any web access to the Extender again. Very aggravating!

Your alternative hard-wired access method sounds like it could work but I don't have an ethernet cable at hand to try it. And, some devices these days dont even have ethernet ports. I think I should be able to wirelessly access this unique subnet extender any time I want to make and test various settings tweaks. Maybe I can use the "route" command line to create a static connection between www.mywifiext.net and the Extender's internal subnet. Can you tell me what the default Extender subnet is?

Any other suggestions?

This worked for me:

www.mywifiext.com (not .net)
I think maybe NetGear has some serious typos in their manuals.

Thanks Hurnik, that worked for me. mywifiext.net was working for me until I activated the Fast Lane option. For some reason, after I activated this, I could not longer use the .net link to access the router but your solution worked perfect. I like this device, much easier to use than my old Dlink 1522 bridge (I use the device mainly for the ethernet ports).

I can access my WN2500 extender via the IP address, 192.168.1.2, but neither the .com or .net address. Both are set up to get their IP address from my ISP so I assume they're getting not only an IP address but using the same subnet mask, 255.255.255.0 - am I wrong?